What Is a Business Continuity Plan in ISO 22301 — And Why Is It So Important?

When businesses start looking into ISO 22301, one of the most common questions is:

“What exactly is a Business Continuity Plan, and what does ISO 22301 require from us?”

It’s a valid question — and a vital one.

ISO 22301:2019 is the international standard for Business Continuity Management Systems (BCMS). Its core purpose is to help organisations prepare for disruptions and recover from them quickly. And at the heart of any effective BCMS lies the Business Continuity Plan (BCP).

In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at what a BCP really is, what ISO 22301 expects, why it matters, and the steps to creating a plan that actually works.

What Is a Business Continuity Plan?

A Business Continuity Plan is a structured document that outlines how your organisation will continue to deliver key products and services during unexpected disruptions. These disruptions can range from small-scale operational interruptions to full-blown crises such as:

Cyberattacks
IT infrastructure failure
Natural disasters
Power outages
Supplier failure
Pandemic outbreaks
Civil unrest
Data breaches

Rather than reacting blindly during a crisis, your BCP gives you a predefined, rehearsed response — a roadmap that guides your organisation back to stability.

What Does ISO 22301 Require from Your Business Continuity Plan?

ISO 22301 doesn’t just ask businesses to “have a plan.” It outlines specific clauses that govern how the plan should be structured, maintained, and tested.

Here’s a breakdown of what ISO 22301 expects:

1. Business Impact Analysis (BIA)

Before developing the plan, ISO 22301 requires you to identify critical business activities and assess how disruptions could impact them. This includes:

Maximum tolerable periods of disruption
Dependencies (people, systems, suppliers)
Legal, regulatory, and contractual obligations

The BIA helps prioritise which activities need to be recovered first. Unsure what to put at the top of your critical activities? Chat with us for a quick review!

2. Risk Assessment

Understanding the risks your organisation faces is crucial. This doesn’t just include natural disasters — think ransomware attacks, power loss, or even key personnel being unavailable.

ISO 22301 expects you to evaluate the likelihood and potential impact of these threats and plan accordingly.

3. Documented Strategies and Plans

Your BCP must clearly set out:

Recovery time objectives (RTOs) for critical functions
Recovery point objectives (RPOs) for data
Resource requirements (e.g., staff, equipment, systems)
Step-by-step procedures to maintain operations or recover them
Roles and responsibilities of key personnel during an incident

4. Communication Protocols

Effective communication is critical in a crisis. ISO 22301 requires plans for:

Internal communications (staff updates, alerts, emergency contacts)
External communications (clients, suppliers, regulators, media)
Templates for notifications or statements

5. Testing and Exercising

Having a plan is not enough. You must regularly test and review your BCP to ensure it works and your team knows what to do. ISO 22301 encourages:

Tabletop exercises
Simulations
Post-exercise reviews
Continuous improvement

6. Monitoring and Reviewing

The plan should be reviewed regularly — particularly after incidents or organisational changes — to keep it up to date and aligned with current risks.

Need help with implementing ISO 22301? Send us a request for initial assessment!

Why Is the BCP So Important?

Many organisations only realise the value of a BCP after facing a major disruption. A well-developed and regularly tested plan brings several key benefits:

Operational Resilience

With a BCP, you can continue core operations even in the face of significant disruption — protecting revenue and customer relationships.

Informed Decision-Making

During a crisis, having pre-agreed procedures and roles avoids chaos, confusion, and poor decisions made under pressure.

Financial Protection

Business interruptions cost money — in lost revenue, fines, and reputational damage. A strong BCP helps you bounce back quickly, limiting the impact.

Regulatory Compliance

Many industries require continuity planning by law or contract. ISO 22301 helps ensure you meet these obligations.

Customer Confidence

Being ISO 22301 certified, or having a tested BCP, reassures clients and stakeholders that you’re a reliable partner — even in uncertain times.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Creating a BCP

ISO 22301 highlights the importance of continuous improvement, but many organisations fall into these traps:

Static, out-of-date plans: Plans written years ago with no updates or real-world testing
Too much complexity: Overly long documents no one reads during a crisis
No assigned roles: Team members unsure what they’re responsible for
Lack of awareness or training: Employees not informed or trained on procedures
No testing schedule: Plans that look good on paper but don’t hold up under pressure

Avoid these mistakes by embedding your continuity planning into your organisation’s culture — not just filing it away as a compliance document.

How to Build a Strong Business Continuity Plan (Step by Step)

Here’s a simplified approach to getting started:

Conduct a Business Impact Analysis (BIA)
Identify threats and assess risk
Define your recovery strategy
Develop procedures for continuity and recovery
Establish a crisis communication strategy
Assign roles and train staff
Test and exercise the plan
Review and update regularly

Remember, ISO 22301 is flexible and scalable — meaning it can work for SMEs, large corporations, public sector bodies, and even not-for-profits.

Final Thoughts

A Business Continuity Plan is more than just a requirement for ISO 22301 — it’s a vital asset that helps protect your people, profits, and reputation. Whether your business is aiming for certification or simply wants to be better prepared, building a robust and responsive BCP is one of the smartest strategic decisions you can make.

Need Help With ISO 22301?

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